New leader for 99th Air Base Wing Published May 29, 2008 By Staff Sgt. Jacob R. McCarthy Nellis AFB Public Affairs NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- Col. Howard D. Belote took command of the 99th Air Base Wing during a change of command ceremony in the Thunderbirds hangar here May 29. Colonel Belote succeeds Col. Michael Bartley, who will retire from active-duty service. "I'm thrilled by the privilege of serving the Nellis, Creech, Tonopah, and southern Nevada communities alongside the warriors of the 99th Air Base Wing," said Colonel Belote during his inaugural speech. "You can count on me to fly top-cover for you and to fight for the resources you need to do your jobs. I know we can accomplish anything as a team." The 99th ABW serves as the host wing for Nellis AFB. The wing oversees the daily operations of the base such as personnel, finance, civil engineering and supply. Three groups, the 99th Medical Group, the 99th Mission Support Group and the 99th Security Forces Group, are assigned to the wing. Prior to this assignment, Colonel Belote was the Combating Weapons of Mass Destruction Division chief on the Joint Staff at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., where he provided oversight of strategic guidance, plans, policies, and doctrine relating to Department of Defense CWMD activities. Colonel Belote is a senior pilot with more than 2,000 flight hours. He flew the F-16 Fighting Falcon and the F-111 Aardvark. Colonel Belote received his Master of Science degree in national security strategy as a distinguished graduate from the National Defense University, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C. in 2004. He also received a Master of Business Administration degree in aviation from Embry-Riddle University in 1996. During his 22 years of Air Force service, Colonel Belote has earned a Defense Superior Service Medal, a Legion of Merit, a Bronze Star with one oak leaf cluster, a Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, an Air Medal, an Aerial Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster, a Joint Service Commendation Medal, and an Air Force Commendation Medal.
